DRAFT Long Range Plan for the Management of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep in New Mexico 2004-2014 Wildlife Management Division New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Santa Fe, New Mexico 2004 Executive Summary Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) occupy open, mountainous habitat either above timberline or in open canyons and slopes below forests and woodlands. They are characterized by low reproductive rates, long life spans, and populations that can be bottom-up regulated by nutritional constraints or top-down regulated by predation. Two of 3 alpine populations are currently at carrying capacity and require trapping and removal to keep herds below carrying capacity (Hacker et al. 2000). Declines in the 3 low-elevation populations in New Mexico are associated with habitat loss resulting from fire suppression and livestock grazing (Huddleston-Lorton 2000), increased predation from mountain lions (Puma concolor) (Ahlm 2001, Huddleston-Lorton 2000, NMDGF files) train-strike kills (NMDGF files), and disease (Ahlm 2001). Other factors influencing bighorn populations include: recreation use, roads, fences, exotic ungulates, poor range conditions, and illegal harvest. Rocky Mountain bighorn never were widespread in New Mexico, with historical evidence for just 4 populations in Wheeler Peak, Pecos Wilderness, White Rock Canyon, and Manzano/Los Pinos Mountains (Bailey 1931, Leopold 1933). In 2003, there are an estimated 850 Rocky Mountain bighorn in 3 alpine and 3 low-elevation populations (Figure 1). In 2003 all 3 alpine populations are estimated to be > 100 and each of the 3 low-elevation populations are estimated to be < 100. Populations with more than 100 bighorn have an increased probability of long-term persistence (Berger 1990) and New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (The Department) is working to increase all populations above 100. About the Plan In this plan, issues and strategies are identified that will guide the Department from 2004 through 2014 in effectively managing Rocky Mountain bighorn and in satisfying the public’s interest in this species. A four-fold approach will be used to achieve this. (1) Involve the public in creating, evaluating, and implementing the plan: A period of public review was included in the development of this plan. The Department will seek further advice from affected publics on implementation of the plan. A biennial review of this plan will be implemented to keep the document current. (2) Establish and maintain viable populations: The Department will continue to trap bighorn out of populations that reach carrying capacity. These bighorn will be: (a) transplanted within New Mexico to augment extant populations or to fill vacant historical habitats, (b) traded to Arizona for desert bighorn sheep, and (c) traded to other western states if not required in New Mexico. The Department will continue to monitor extant populations annually, enforce laws against illegal harvest, and work with land 2 management agencies and private landowners to minimize disease outbreaks and the adverse affects of human impacts. (3) Increase public awareness of and support for bighorn: Wildlife Management Division will continue to work with the Conservation Education Section within The Department to develop educational programs for presentation to schools and other interested groups and work to establish a zoo display. (4) Increase consumptive and non-consumptive recreational opportunities: The Department will continue to provide quality hunting and provide bighorn viewing opportunities. Draft Status This is the second draft of the document, completed on January 30, 2004. This draft is currently posted on the Department Website and is being reviewed by external publics, and agency personnel. Acknowledgements: Long Range Plan for the Management of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep in New Mexico 2004-2014 was written by Department bighorn sheep biologists Eric Rominger and Elise Goldstein. This document is a revision of the original Long Range Plan written by Bill Dunn, the Department bighorn sheep biologist when the original plan was written in 1996. We would like to thank Department of Game and Fish personnel, especially Darrel Weybright and Bill Graves for assistance in organizing the Plan. This publication was funded by sportsmen’s dollars derived from the auction of one bighorn hunting license through the National Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, the raffle of one bighorn hunting license administered through the New Mexico Chapter of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, and by federal excise taxes on sporting arms and ammunition as authorized by the Pittman-Robertson Act, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration. 3 Table of Contents Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………….ii About the Plan…………………………………………………………………………….ii Draft Status……………………………………………………………………………….iii Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………………...iii Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………iv List of Tables……………………………………………………………………………..vi List of Figures……………………………………………………………………………vi Natural History and Ecology……………………………………………………………7 Parasites and Diseases……………………………………………………………………..8 Pneumonia…………………………………………………………………………8 Lungworms………………………………………………………………………..9 Bluetongue………………………………………………………………………...9 Contagious ecthyma……………………………………………………………….9 Psoroptic scabies…………………………………..………………………………9 Chronic sinusitis…………………………………………………………………10 Elaeophoris………………………………………………………………………10 Competitors………………………………………………………………………………10 Predators…………………………………………………………………………………11 Human Disturbance……………………………………………………………………...11 Historical Perspective……………………………………………………………………12 Population trends………………………………………………………………………...12 Pecos Wilderness………………………………………………………………...12 Wheeler Peak Wilderness………………………………………………………..13 Latir Wilderness………………………….………………………………………14 San Francisco River………………..……….……………………………………14 Turkey Creek…………………………….………………………………………15 Manzano/Los Pinos………………..…….………………………………………15 Habitat trends……………………………………………………………………………16 Habitat Assessment…………………………..….………………………………………17 Occupied Alpine Habitats………………………….…………………………………….20 Pecos Wilderness…………………………….…………………………………..20 Wheeler Peak Wilderness………………….…………………………………….20 Latir Wilderness…………………………….……………………………………20 Unoccupied Alpine Habitats…………………….……………………………………….21 Culebres Range………………………….……………………………………….21 Santa Fe Baldy………………………….………………………………………..21 Occupied Low-elevation Habitats………………..………………………………………22 San Francisco River……………………………………………………………...22 Turkey Creek…………………………………………………………………….22 Manzano/Los Pinos………………………………………………………………22 Unoccupied Low-elevation Habitats…………………………………………………..…23 Rio Grande Gorge………………………………………………………………..23 White Rock Canyon……………………………………………………………...23 4 Sandia Mountains………………………………………………………………..23 Management Assessment………………………………………………………………24 Supply and Demand Assessment………………………………………………………...24 Economic Impacts Assessment……………………….………………………………….25 Special Considerations………………………………….………………………………..25 Summary and Conclusions………………………………………………………………25 Literature Cited…………………………………………………………………………..26 Long Range Plan……………………………………………….………………………38 Management Strategy Section……………………….…………………………………..38 Issues and Strategies……………………………….…………………………………….38 Appendices………………………………………….……………………………………43 Appendix A. History of Rocky Mountains bighorn sheep transplants in New Mexico. Appendix B. Public involvement in the development of the Long Range Plan. Appendix C. Approvals 5 • List of Tables 1. Current and potential population sizes of alpine herds of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in New Mexico. 2. Current and potential population sizes of low-elevation herds of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in New Mexico. • List of Figures 1. Occupied range of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in New Mexico, 2004. 2. Unoccupied range of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in New Mexico, 2004. 6 Natural History and Ecology Rocky Mountain bighorn (Ovis canadensis canadensis) are even-toed ungulates native to North America in the family Bovidae. Northern races or subspecies of bighorn sheep (O. c. canadensis, O. c. californiana, O. c. auduboni) were extirpated from Arizona, New Mexico, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington (Toweill and Geist 1999). Populations in other western states and provinces of the United States and Canada probably declined to < 10,000 individuals (Toweill and Geist 1999). Today Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are found in all western states and provinces with historical records, from New Mexico to British Columbia. Bighorn sheep are characterized by low reproductive rates, long life spans, and populations adapted to live near carrying capacity in relatively stable environments (Geist 1975). Bighorn sheep are a sexually dimorphic species and ewes may weigh 190 pounds (86 kg) and rams may weigh >300 pounds (136 kg). One of the most prominent characteristics of bighorn sheep are the very large horns of adult males. Large-horned, older rams do much of the breeding, though younger rams will breed opportunistically (Hogg and Forbes 1997). Rams may breed several ewes, however they are not territorial nor do they form harems, but rather are serial polygynists (Geist 1971). Ewes generally first breed at 2.5 years and give birth to 1 lamb after a gestation period of 180 days (Lawson and Johnson 1983). Although twinning has been documented in both wild and captive bighorn it occurs infrequently (Eccles and Shackleton 1979). Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep generally breed in December and January with most lambs born in June